Cover and latch arrangement for portable vacuum cleaner



y 5, 1966 w. c. ANDERSON 3,259,258

COVER AND LATCH ARRANGEMENT FOR PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANER Filed May 27, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. *fg/ff/ 6' 4/706/50/7 A TTOR NE Y July 5, 1966 w. c. ANDERSON COVER AND LATCH ARRANGEMENT FOR PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27. 1964 INVENTOR.

."1 TTOR NE Y COVER AND LATCH ARRANGEMENT FOR PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANER Filed May 2'7, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Mme far Wi /fer Ahafmv/y United States Patent 3,259,268 COVER AND LATCH ARRANGEMENT FOR PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANER Walter C. Anderson, Southport, Conn., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed May 27, 1964, Ser. No. 370,518 Claims. (Cl. 220-55) My invention relates to portable vacuum cleaners and more particularly to a cover and latch arrangement for such cleaners.

Manufacturers of vacuum cleaners, more particularly small hand-held vacuum cleaners, have been striving to develop a dust bag cover arrangement for their cleaners which is unobtrusive, inexpensive, highly eflicient, and extremely easy for the housewife to remove and remount. Many of the attempts toward this end have resulted in cover and latch arrangements which, while furnishing a good seal with the dust bag mouth, have been difficult for the housewife to use. For example, some cleaners have been provided with covers fastened by a plurality of holddown devices which require an excessive amount of time and effort on the part of the housewife to operate. Others, although relatively simple to operate, have resulted in an inefficient seal between the cover and the dust bag mouth, thus giving the cleaner a poor suction characteristic. Still others have demanded a precise orientation of the cover upon the cleaner in order that the hold-down device might operate satisfactorily. Also, many prior art latch arrangements have unduly interfered with the body of the user during operation of the cleaner.

It is an object of my invention to provide a cover and latch arrangement for a portable vacuum cleaner which effects a highly efficient seal with the mouth of a dust bag.

It is another object of my invention to provide a cover and latch arrangement for a portable vacuum cleaner which enables the cover to be removed and remounted easily.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a cover and latch arrangement for a portable vacuum cleaner which is unobtrusive to the user and which is inexpensive to produce.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds. The features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

In carrying out the objects of my invention, in one form thereof, I provide a generally rectangular cover for sealing the mouth of a dust bag for the cleaner against a ledge around a generally rectangular open forward end of the cleaner. On each of the shorter edges of the cover is formed an integral lug projecting from the plane of the cover. A lip is formed in the cleaner housing adjacent a shorter side of the open end of the cleaner, which lip overhangs a portion of the ledge supporting the bag mouth. A full-width toggle latch is provided adjacent the opposite side of the open end of the cleaner. To secure the cover in place over the open end and in sealing engagement with the mouth of the dust bag, either cover lug is inserted beneath the lip; the cover is then rotated downwardly into engagement with the mouth of the dust bag. Finally, the toggle latch is brought into engagement with the other lug and snapped into its stable overcenter position wherein a strong seal is effected with the dust bag across the full width of the cover.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one end of the portable vacuum cleaner, showing the cover secured in place by the latch and illustrating a shoulder strap used with the cleaner.

3,259,268 Patented July 5, 1966 FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with the latch disengaged from the cover.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on lines 3-3 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the cleaner showing the latch in its engaged position, with a portion of the latch broken away.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing one end of the cover during the operation of mounting the cover upon the cleaner.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing the other end of the cover during the operation of mounting the cover upon the cleaner.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cover.

FIG. 9 is a cutaway sectional side view of the cleaner showing the vacuum cleaner shoulder strap.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7 of the drawings, it will be seen that my cover and latch arrangement is incorporated into the forward end of a portable vacuum cleaner having a housing 1. At the forward end of the cleaner housing 1 is a generally rectangular opening for allowing the placement of a dust bag 2 within the interior of the housing 1. The mouth of the dust bag 2 has an annular gasket 3 attached thereto, which gasket 3 is supported upon a ledge 4 formed in the housing 1.

In order to seal the mouth of the dust bag 2 and close the open end of the cleaner housing 1, a cover 5 is provided. The cover 5 is shown in FIG. 8. The cover 5 is generally rectangular in shape, being designed to fit tightly into the open end of the housing 1. Lugs 6 project from the plane of the cover 5 along each of its opposed shorter edges. Each lug has a medial hiatus to allow the admission of the end of a shoulder strap hook 7 (see FIG. 1) when the cover 5 is mounted upon the housing 1. As is evident from the drawings, the lugs 6 on the opposed edges of the cover 5 are symmetrical about an axis parallel with the edges and through the center of the cover 5. With this construction, the cover 5 can be mounted in the open end of the housing in either a first position or a reversed second position. A suction inlet mouth assembly 8 is formed in the center of the cover 5, being designed to receive the end of a wand (not shown).

Surrounding the open end of the housing is a flange formed integral with the housing 1, which flange has a portion '9 disposed adjacent one of the shorter sides of the open end of the housing 1 and opposed flange portions 10, 11 adjacent the longer sides of the open end.

The flange portion 9 has an integral inwardly extending lip 12 overhanging a section of the ledge 4, the lip 12 serving to engage and retain one of the lugs 6 on the cover 5 when the cover 5 is in its mounted position. A portion of the lip 12 cooperates with the medial hiatus in the lugs 6 to form a recess 13 for the reception of the shoulder strap hook 7.

The opposed flange portions 10, 11 function, during the cover mounting operation, to guide and position the cover 5, and also to assist in establishing a good seal of the cover 5 with the mouth of the dust bag 2.

In order to releasably secure the cover 5 upon the cleaner housing 1, a full width toggle latch 14 is provided adjacent the side of the open end of the housing 1 opposite the lip 12. The toggle latch 14 comprises a clamp 15 having a hooked end portion 16 which serves to engage one of the lugs 6 on the cover 5. The clamp 15 is designed to span substantially the full width of the shorter side of the cover 5, when in engagement with the cover 5, in order to establish a good full Width seal between the cover 5 and the mouth of the dust bag 2. The clamp 15 is pivotally connected to the housing 1 by a U-shaped spring 17. The spring 17 has outwardly biased legs 18, 19 journaled in eyelets 20, 21 in the housing 1. It will 3 be evident from FIGS. 3 and 7 of the drawings that the spring 17 functions to provide an overcenter spring action for the clamp 15 as well as to furnish the necessary toggle joint between the clamp 15 and the housing 1.

A recess 22 in the housing 1 receives the clamp 15 when the clamp 15 is in the engaged position in order that the outer surface of the clamp 15 be disposed flush with the outer surface of the housing 1 and unobtrusive to the user of the cleaner. The recess 22 is sufliciently larger than the clamp 15 to allow the user to insert fingers beneath the clamp 15 to free the clamp 15 from the cover 5 when the cover 5 is to be removed.

In operation a lug 6 on either of the shorter edges 9 of the cover 5 is inserted beneath the lip 12 on flange portion 9 (see FIG. 6). The cover 5 is then pivoted downwardly about this edge into tight engagement with the gasket 3 around the mouth of the dust bag 2. The hooked end portion 16 of the clamp is then placed over the lug 6 on the opposed edge of the cover 5 (see FIG. '7) and snapped, under the influence of overcenter spring 17, into the recess 22 in the housing 1 (see FIG. 3). The cover 5 is thus drawn tightly into engagement with the dust bag gasket 3, the full width of the clamp 15 bearing upon the edge of the cover 5 to maintain a good seal throughout the entire width of the cover 5.

My invention is not limited to the particular details of construction of the embodiment illustrated and I contemplate that various and other modifications and applications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore my intention that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a portable vacuum cleaner having a housing with a generally rectangular open end for receiving a dust bag, a cover and latch arrangement comprising:

(a) a generally rectangular cover having a lug projecting from the cover along each of opposed edges thereof,

(b) a lip on said housing adjacent the open end thereof,

(c) said lip engaging and retaining one of said lugs when said cover is mounted on the housing, and

(d) a latch pivotally mounted adjacent the side of the open end of the housing opposite said lip for engaging 4 the other of said lugs to urge said cover into sealing engagement with the dust bag.

2. A cover and latch arrangement for a portable vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lugs along each of opposed edges of said cover have a medial hiatus for allowing the insertion of a securing hook for a shoulder strap for the cleaner beneath said lip when said cover is in its mounted position upon the housing.

3. In a portable vacuum cleaner having a housing with a generally rectangular open end for receiving a dust bag, a cover and latch arrangement comprising:

(a) a generally rectangular planar cover having a lug projecting from the plane of the cover along each of opposed edges thereof,

(b) a flange on the housing adjacent the open end thereof,

(c) said flange having opposed portions adjacent the longer sides of the open end of the cleaner for guiding and positioning said cover,

(d) a lip on a portion of said flange along a shorter side of the open end for engaging and retaining one of said lugs when said cover is mounted on said housing, and

(e) a toggle latch pivotally mounted adjacent a side of the open end of the cleaner housing opposite said lip for engaging the other of said lugs to urge said cover into sealing engagement with the dust bag.

4. In a portable vacuum cleaner having a housing with a generally rectangular open end for receiving a dust bag, a cover and latch arrangement comprising:

(a) a generally rectangular planar cover having a lug projecting from the plane of the cover along each of opposed edges thereof,

(b) said lugs being symmetrical about an axis parallel to said edges through the center of the cover in order that said cover may be oriented on the housing in either a first position or a reversed second position,

(c) a flange on the housing adjacent the open end thereof,

(d) said flange having opposed portions adjacent the longer sides of the open end of the housing for guiding and positioning said cover,

(e) a lip extending from a portion of said flange along a shorter side of the open end for engaging and retaining one of said lugs when said cover is mounted on said housing, and

(f) a toggle latch comprising:

(1) a clamp having a hooked end portion for engaging one of said lugs, and

(2) a U-shaped overcenter spring pivotally connected to said housing and said clamp for providing a toggle joint therebetween to establish an overcenter spring action for said latch,

(g) said toggle latch being pivotally mounted adjacent the other of the shorter sides of the open end of the housing opposite said lip for engaging the other of said lugs to urge said cover into sealing engagement with the dust bag.

5. A cover and latch arrangement for a portable vacuum cleaner as claimed in claim 4 wherein said toggle latch includes a clamp spanning substantially the full width of said cover for urging said cover into firm sealing engagement with the dust bag across the full width of said cover.

No references cited.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

G. T. HALL, Assistant Examiner. 

4. IN A PORTABLE VACUUM CLEANER HAVING A HOUSING WITH A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR OPEN END FOR RECEIVING A DUST BAG, A COVER AND LATCH ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING: (A) A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR PLANAR COVER HAVING A LUG PROJECTING FROM THE PLANE OF THE COVER ALONG EACH OF OPPOSED EDGES THEREOF, (B) SAID LUGS BEING SYMMETRICALLY ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID EDGES THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE COVER IN ORDER THAT SAID COVER MAY BE ORIENTED ON THE HOUSING IN EITHER A FIRST POSITION OR A 180* REVERSED SECOND POSITION, (C) A FLANGE ON THE HOUSING ADJACENT THE OPEN END THEREOF, (D) SAID FLANGE HAVING OPPOSED PORIONS ADJACENT THE LONGER SIDES OF THE OPEN END OF THE HOUSING FOR GUIDING AND POSITIONING SAID COVER, (E) A LIP EXTENDING FRON A PORTION OF SAID FLANGE ALONG A SHORTER SIDE OF THE OPEN END FOR ENGAGING AND RETAINING ONE OF SAID LUGS WHEN SAID COVER IS MOUNTED ON SAID HOUSING, AND (F) A TOGGLE LATCH COMPRISING: (1) A CLAMP HAVING A HOOKED END PORTION FOR ENGAGING ONE OF SAID LUGS, AND (2) A U-SHAPED OVERCENTER SPRING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID HOUSING AND SAID CLAMP FOR PROVIDING A TOGGLE JOINT THEREBETWEEN TO ESTABLISH AN OVERCENTER SPRING ACTION FOR SAID LATCH, (G) SAID TOGGLE LATCH BEING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ADJACENT THE OTHER OF THE SHORTER SIDES OF THE OPEN END OF THE HOUSING OPPOSITE SAID LIP ENGAGING THE OTHER OF SAID LUGS TO URGE SAID COVER INTO SEALING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE DUST BAG. 